Qatar’s former Emir laid to rest

Manama: Thousands of Qataris and foreigners have paid tribute to Shaikh Khalifa Bin Hamad Al Thani, the first Emir of independent Qatar, who passed away on Sunday aged 84.

The funeral prayers were held following the Asr (afternoon) prayers at the Imam Mohammad Bin Abdul Wahab Mosque in the capital Doha.

Condolences and expressions of sympathy for the family of the deceased poured in and a special trend was launched on Twitter to share messages and post pictures of the emir who ruled Qatar for 23 years, from 1972 until 1995.

Shaikh Khalifa was succeeded by his son Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani who abducted the throne to his son, Prince Tamim, the current ruler of the peninsular country.

The Emiri Diwan said that Shaikh Tamim and his father Shaikh Hamad would receive condolences from mourners at Al Wajbah Palace on Wednesday between the Maghrib (Sunset) and Esha (Evening) prayers and on Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 am to Dhuhr (Noon) and between Asr and Esha prayers.